How is the CANON 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM Lens?

[Springbok]

Hi there,

I'm new to the forum, have a Canon EOS 350D with standard 18-55mm lens, as well as a 35-80mm lens, but time to upgrade to something decent now.

Does anyone here perhaps have experience with the 70-300mm DO IS USM lens? seems like a great lens for travelling, much more compact and lighter than its non-DO peers. But from reviews it seems that the image quality is not that good at maximum zoom? Or is that more of a concern to professionals?

Will appreciate comments.

Or would you rather get the CANON 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens instead, despite it being much heavier? Or is the 70-300mm DO lens O.K.? I will use it mostly for nature photography for my own amateur use.

Lastly - has anyone bought through http://www.d-d-photographics.com ?

Thanks
Charl

[surenj]

Hi Charles, Welcome to the Forum.
I don't know much about the DO lens but it should have a review on Fred Miranda site.

D-D photographics has been reviewed extensively in this site's Trader opinions forum if you want to have a look.

All the best with your purchase.

[mistadasO]

I read the below reviews and bought 70-300 DO.
Cost a lot and it is not an L lens.
I have one L and love it.
But the DO fits in my bag and is there when I want it..... would I hike around with a big white monster?
I read a review where someone put a Kenko 1.4 adapter on and it worked I did the same.
check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/mistadas/ many surf and bird shots
oh and I saw two on e-bay recently !
it is exactly what the reviewers say about it ........a hard decision I still have my doubts.... but it is in my bag.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Revi ... eview.aspx
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/revie ... 00mm.shtml

mistadas

[potato1]

The DO's aren't bad at all, but I believe they can have issues with low micro contrast, funny oof highlights and lack of critical sharpness. However, these are not always huge issues, the contrast and slight softness (if any) can be alleviated largely through post processing. Otherwise, you could consider the standard 70-300, quite sharp and not that big really. The 100-400 is very nice as well, but certainly not compact. However, this lens is going to have better quality than either of the 70-300's and give you 400mm. At the price of the 100-400 you could then also afford a number of the 70-200 variants, which paired with a 1.4x televerter would give you the range your after, with potentially the flexibility in low light of f/2.8